News

Morning 9: Small Masters field for 2024? | PGA Tour reinstates Cabrera | Honda Classic secures new sponsor

Published

2 years ago

Dec 20, 2023

Ben Alberstadt

By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.

For comments: ben.alberstadt@golfwrx.com

Good Wednesday morning, golf fans.

1. Small Masters field ahead?

AP report…”With no significant tournaments the rest of the year, it looks as though 11 players who finish in the top 50 will be added to the field, which would bring the field to 77 players among those expected to compete.”

“That includes three players who will be making their Masters debuts without ever having won on the PGA Tour or European tour: Adam Schenk, Eric Cole and Denny McCarthy. Schenk qualified by reaching the Tour Championship for the first time.”

“The 11 expected to get in through top 50 in the world ranking are Ryan Fox, Min Woo Lee, McCarthy, Will Zalatoris, Justin Rose, Harris English, Cole, J.T. Poston, Adrian Meronk, Adam Hadwin and Nicolai Hojgaard.”

“Four players — Luke List, Erik van Rooyen, Camilo Villegas and Ludvig Åberg — earned invitations by winning PGA Tour events in the fall.”

Full piece.

2. New sponsor for former Honda Classic

From a press release…”Information technology company Cognizant has become the new title sponsor of the PGA TOUR’s long-running South Florida event formerly known as the Honda Classic, which will now become the Cognizant Classic.”

“The Cognizant Classic will return to PGA National Resort’s Champion Course the week of February 26–March 3, as part of the FedExCup regular season. The sponsorship deal runs from 2024-30.”

“On behalf of the PGA TOUR, our thanks to Cognizant for their commitment to the PGA TOUR’s South Florida event through 2030,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “Through this partnership, the Cognizant Classic will continue to be one of the premier sports and entertainment events in the Palm Beaches while maintaining its role as a charitable leader within the community.”

Full piece.

3. Cabrera reinstated

Golf Digest’s Joel Beall…”Angel Cabrera has been reinstated to the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions following a two-year prison sentence for gender violence.”

“In a letter obtained by Golf Digest, Cabrera was notified by Andy Levinson, senior vice president of the tour, on Dec. 18 that his suspension had been lifted effective immediately.”

“Failure to comply with the terms of your release from prison or any additional information regarding your legal situation in Argentina may result in the immediate reinstatement of your suspension,” Levinson wrote.

Full piece.

4. Things we won’t be talking about in 10 years…

Golf Digest assembled a list, which includes…

“Teegate…It started when Patrick Reed threw a tee at Rory McIlroy in an attempt to “say hello” as the new year kicked off at the Dubai Desert Classic. McIlroy then threw a dagger at Reed in a press conference—upset over getting a subpoena from Reed’s lawyer on Christmas Eve—and the spat was on. It was the silly kind of fluff that went down smooth in January when we were all easing into the golf year but in hindsight seems not just figuratively but literally crazy. The one saving grace was that it actually spilled on to the course, McIlroy pulling out a one-shot win over Reed.”

Full piece.

5. Turning casual fans off?

Larry Bohannan, Palm Springs Desert Sun…

“I just don’t watch golf as much as I used to.”

“I watch the majors, but that’s about it.”

“The PGA Tour tells me the best players play here when some of the best players don’t play there.”

…”The PGA Tour and the PIF may feel they are battling for the heart and soul of professional men’s golf in the world. But the message from readers seems clear: The constant fighting and insulting and preening of some figures on both sides might just kill the goose that laid the golden egg. In what is a niche sport to begin with compared to the goliaths of the NFL, the NBA, major league baseball and even soccer, golf might be turning off its fans with the bickering and with the top players in the game getting together only four times a year at the major championships.”

Full Piece.

6. The caddie who launched a whisky empire

Jim Dobson for Forbes…”Kingsbarns Distillery is the brainchild of Scottish golf caddie Douglas Clement. As a long-time caddie at Kingsbarns Links in the East Neuk of Fife in Scotland, Clement was constantly entertaining wealthy golfers who visited from all over the world to play Golf at St Andrews. His clients always wanted to go to a distillery for whisky tasting during their visit but there was nothing nearby, so he began to form a plan.”

“Turning his dream into reality was a labor of love for the young caddie, born in St Andrews and brought up on a farm near Anstruther. During the 80s, Clement had often visited a derelict 18th century farm on the Cambo Estate which he had always considered the perfect location for a distillery just a few miles from St. Andrews. From its conception in 2009, it took five years for the idea to be formed into a full operational whisky distillery.”

Full Piece.

7. Ben Baller’s 24K putter and WITB

Our Andrew Tursky…“Ben Yang, a.k.a. Ben Baller, is a world-famous jeweler, music producer, actor, and podcaster who’s been a tastemaker for celebrities, musicians, and sports stars for decades.”

“…Over the last two years, Ben Baller has also developed a newfound love of golf, and he’s bringing his eye for “cool stuff” to the golf world.”

“Despite his short period of involvement in the sport, he’s already broken 80 four times, he was on the winning 2023 Farmers Insurance Pro-Am team, and he’s earned the nickname “BBACK9.”

“And, as one could only expect from the longtime jewelry titan, Ben Baller also has one of the coolest WITBs in all of golf. His setup includes a Bubba Watson pink proto Ping G430 driver (gifted to him by Bubba Watson personally), blacked-out TaylorMade P790 irons, custom-stamped TaylorMade MG4 wedges, and a jaw-dropping 24K gold Scotty Cameron 1-of-1 Circle-T putter, custom-made by Scotty Cameron putter fitting director Paul Vizanko.”

Full Piece.

8. Maryland to host 5 big championships

Todd Kelly for Golfweek..”The U.S. Golf Association is making a splash in the Old Line State.”

“There are five championships coming to Maryland, the USGA announced Tuesday morning, three for Woodmont Country Club and two more for Columbia Country Club.”

“The Adaptive Open, which debuted in 2022, is headed to Woodmont, located in Rockville, about 20 miles north of Washington, D.C., in 2025 and 2026. The private club was established in 1913 and moved to its current location in 1950. It will also host the 2028 U.S. Junior Amateur.”

“Columbia CC, in Chevy Chase, is about seven miles north of D.C. and will host two senior events, the 2027 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur and the 2035 U.S. Senior Amateur.”

Full Piece.

9. Rory skips BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony

Mike Hall for Golf Monthly…”Team Europe Ryder Cup star Rory McIlroy was nominated for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award after another outstanding year. However, the 34-year-old didn’t made an appearance at the prestigious ceremony, with his Ryder Cup teammate Tommy Fleetwood attending on his behalf”

Full Piece.

News

Tour Rundown: Bend, but don’t break

Published

3 weeks ago

Aug 4, 2025

Ronald Montesano

I’m going to gush in this intro paragraph, to get the emo stuff done early. I’ve not pulled harder for a professional to win, than Cameron Young. I coach golf in New York state, and each spring, my best golfers head to a state championship in Poughkeepsie. I first saw Cameron there as a 9th grade student. I saw him three more times after that. I reconnecected with Coach Haas from Wake Forest, an old interview subject from my days on the Old Gold and Black, the Wake newspaper. He was there to watch Cameron. After four years at Wake Forest, Young won on the Korn Ferry Tour, made it to the big tour, almost won two majors, almost won five other events, and finally got the chalice about 25 minutes from the Wake campus. Congratulations, Cameron. You truly are a glass of the finest. #MotherSoDear

OK, let’s move on to the Tour Rundown. The major championship season closed this week in Wales, with the Women’s Open championship. The PGA Tour bounced through Greensboror, N.C., while the PGA Tour Americas hit TO (aka, Toronto) for a long-winded event. The Korn Ferry lads made a stop in Utah, one of just two events for that tour in August. The many-events, golf season is winding down, as we ease from summer toward fall in the northern hemisphere. Let’s bask in the glory of an August sunrise, and run down a quartet of events from the first weekend of the eighth month.

LET/LPGA @ Women’s Open: Miyu bends, but she doesn’t break

Royal Porthcawl was not a known commodity in the major tournament community. The Welsh links had served as host to men’s senior opens, men’s amateurs, and Curtis and Walker Cups in prior years, but never an Open championship for the women or the men. The last-kept secret in UK golf was revealed once again to the world this week, as the best female golfers took to the sandy stage.

Mao Saigo, Grace Kim, Maja Stark, and Minjee Lee hoped to add a second major title to previous wins this season, but only Lee was able to finish inside the top ten. The 2025 playing of the Women’s Open gave us a new-faces gallery from day one. The Kordas and Thitikulls were nowhere to be found, and it was the Mayashitas, Katsus, and Lim Kims that secured the Cymru spotlight. The first round lead was held at 67 by two golfers. One of them battled to the end, while the other posted 81 on day two, and missed the cut. Sitting one shot behind was Miyu Yamashita.

On day two, Yamashita posted the round of the tournament. Her 65 moved her to the front of the aisle, in just her fourth turn around a women’s Open championship. With the pre-event favorites drifting off pace, followers narrowed into two camps: those on the side of an underdog, and others hoping for a weekend charge from back in the pack. In the end, we had a bit of both.

On Saturday, Yamashita bent with 74 on Saturday, offering rays of hope to her pursuing pack. England’s Charley Hull made a run on Sunday closing within one shot before tailing off to a T2 finish with Minami Katsu. Katsu posted the other 65 of the week, on Saturday, but could not overtake her countrywoman, Yamashita. wunderkind Lottie Woad needed one round in the 60s to find her pace, but could only must close-to’s, ending on 284 and a tie with Minjee for eighth.

On Sunday, Yamashita put away the thoughts of Saturday’s struggles, with three-under 33 on the outward half. She closed in plus-one 37, but still won by two, for a first Major and LPGA title.

PGA Tour @ Wyndham: Young gathers first title near home

Cameron Young grew up along the Hudson river, above metro New York, but he also calls Winston-Salem home. He spent four years as a student and athlete at Wake Forest University, then embarked on tour. This week in Greensboro, after a bit of a break, Young opened with 63-62, and revved the engine of Is this the week once more. Runner-up finishes at the Open, the PGA, and a handful of PGA Tour events had followers wonder when the day would come.

On Saturday, Young continued his torrid pace with 65, giving him a five-shot advantage over his closest pursuer. Sunday saw the Scarborough native open with bogey, then reel off five consecutive birdies to remind folks that his time had, at last, arrived. Pars to the 16th, before two harmless bogeys coming home, made Young the 1000th winner of an official PGA Tour event (dating back to before there was a PGA Tour) throughout history. What’s next? I have a suspicion, but I’m not letting on. Mac Meissner closed with 66 to finish solo 2nd, while Mark Hubbard and Alex Noren tied for third.

Korn Ferry Tour @ Utah Championship: Are you Suri it’s Julian?

Who knows exactly when the flower will bloom? Julian Suri played a solid careet at Duke University, then paid his dues on the world’s minor tours for three years. He won twice on two tours in Europe, in 2017. Since then, the grind has continued for the journeyman from New York city. At age 34, Suri broke through in Beehive state, outlasting another grinder (Spencer Levin) and four others, by two shots.

Taylor Montgomery began the week with 62, then posted 64, then 68, and finally, 70. That final round was his undoing. He finished in that second-place tie, two back of the leader. Trace Crowe, Barend Botha, and Kensei Hirata made up the last of the almost quintet. As for Suri, his Sunday play was sublime. His nines were 32 and 31, with his only radar blip a bogey at ten. He closed in style with one final birdie, to double his winning margin. Hogan bloomed late…might Suri?

PGA Tour Americas @ Osprey Valley Open presented by Votorantim Cimentos – CBM Aggregates

Some tournament names run longer than others. This week in Toronto, at the Heathlands course at TPC Toronto, we might have seen the longest tournament title in recorded history. The OVOPBVCCBMA was a splendid affair. It saw three rounds of 62 on Thursday, but of those early risers, only Drew Goodman would stick around until the end. 64 was the low tally on day two, and two of those legionnaires managed to finish inside the top three at week’s end. Saturday brought a 63 from Patrick Newcomb, and he would follow with 64 on Sunday, to finish solo fourth.

Who, then, ended up winning the acronym of the year? It turns out that Carson Bacha had the right stuff in TeeOhhh. Bacha and Jay Card III posted 63 and 64, respectively, on day four, to tie for medalist honors at 23-under 261. Nathan Franks was one shot adrift, despite also closing with 63. If you didn’t go low on Sunday, it was about the check, not the championship.

Bacha and JC3 returned to the 18th hole twice in overtime. Card nearly chipped in from the thick stuff for birdie, while Bacha peeked and shoved a ten-feet attempt at the win. On the second go-round, Card was long with his approach, into the native grasses once more. He was unable to escape, and a routine par from the fairway was enough to earn the former Auburn golfers a first KFT title.

Card III and Bacha both miss their birdie tries on the first playoff hole.

We’ll play 18 again @OspreyOpen. pic.twitter.com/vNpHTdkHDg

— PGA TOUR Americas (@PGATOURAmericas) August 3, 2025

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2025 Wyndham Championship

Published

4 weeks ago

Jul 29, 2025

GolfWRX Staff

GolfWRX is live this week from the final event of the PGA Tour’s regular season, the Wyndham Championship.

Photos are flowing into the forums from Sedgefield Country Club, where we already have a GolfWRX spirit animal Adam Schenk WITB and plenty of putters for your viewing pleasure.

Check out links to all our photos below, which we’ll continue to update as more arrive.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.

News

BK’s Breakdowns: Kurt Kitayama’s Winning WITB, 3M Open

Published

4 weeks ago

Jul 28, 2025

Brian Knudson

Kurt Kitayama just won his 2nd PGA Tour event at the 3M Open. Kurt is a Bridgestone staffer but with just the ball and bag. Here are the rest of the clubs he used to secure a win at the 2025 3M Open.

Driver: Titleist GT3 (11 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD VF 7 TX

3-wood: Titleist GT1 3Tour (14.5 degrees, A3 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 TX

7-wood: Titleist GT1 (21 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 9 TX

Irons: TaylorMade P7CB (4), TaylorMade P7MB (5-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-12F, 56-14F), Vokey Design WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Scotty Cameron Studio Style Newport 2 Tour Prototype
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy 1.0PT

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Bridgestone Tour B XS (with Mindset)